Conveying mechanism.



MI U. BERNHEM. CONVEYING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED IuLY 9. w15.

3L fsf famed sept 10, 1918.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

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Wnden@ Monnis U. BnRNHEiM, oir OAKLEY,

omo, Assieivoza To THE anvar-FERGUSON ooi/I- PANY, OEAKIEY, CINCINNATI, OH10,'A, CORPORATION 0F OHIO.

CONVEYING MECHANISM.

,speciiication of Letters Patent.

Applicationled July 9, 1915. Serial No. 38,866.

To all whom t m ay concern.'

Be it known that l, Mouais U. BERN-rieur, a citizen of the United States, residing-at Oakley, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveying Mechanisms, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to conveying apparatus and one of its important purposes is to provide an improved conveying structure arranged to safely and rapidly transfer lilled bags or other packages along a .level of readily variable length and in readily variable directions and from said-'level to a different one, and to deposit siid packages safely and in piles at any desired point of storage. f Y

The conveying apparatus forming the subject matter of the present invention is also adapted to transfer packages from wagons or cars and pile the same in any part of the' room of a warehouse or other place of storage or from saidstorage place to wagons or cars o'r from. one part of a rooin to another part of thee-ame room or from one room to another rooin on a different level.

ln pursuance of the main or ultimate purpose. ,of the. invention l have provided a structure which is characterized, among other things which will appear from the following description, by the facts:

First: that it comprises a series of readily separable and unitable movable sections, euch having a frame, an endless traveling apron, a shaft which extends lengthwise of the frame, driving connect-ions between the shaft and the apron adapted to impart positive movement to the latter in the direction of the length et the shaft, and universal connections between the confronting ends of shafts of the severa-l sections, whereby one et' said shafts will be driven by another and eat-h will impart the described tra/eling movement to the apron of its sectioi/fregardless of the angle which said shaft and apron of one section occupies with reference to 'the similar part of the next section;

Second: that it comprises an elevator which is readily removable from place to place, has an endless traveling apron which nieves in planes whereby it is adapted safely the saine to the foregoing sections,

lthe level by and without jar to the packages or its mechanism to receive packages from or deliver and has a discharging slide, the delivery end of which is adjustable laterally as well as vertically for delivering bags from the elevator to a predetermined place within the range of its adjustments, to a storage pile being built up by the system.

Third: that the discharging end of the elevator is mounted. to swing horizontally upon. an arc of a circle while its receiving end remains in coperative relation to the sections which convey virtue of which construction the discharging end of tf/e elevator may be swung at will to that position .which will best serve to deposit the packages in piles and in tiers.

Iheparts are also characterized by features entering into the details thereof, whereby important advantages `in respect of strength, e'iective utilization of power, portability, and ease of disconnections of sections and their assemblage into a system of a required length, extending in require directions ,toand from any required place, are secured, all/fas will hereinafter fully appear. ,l

The several objects of the invention are well accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings serving to exemplify the invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective viewof a conveying apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention. l

Fig. Q is a perspective view of one of the convcver sections and a part of another of said'conveyer sections illustrating the driv-. ring connection between their;

.Fig l'is a detail perspective view of slide/'leading from the delivery end offthe elevator. j

Fig. 4 is a rear end View of said slide and the portion of the elevator to which it is secured. Fig. 5 is a detail view partly in section, illust-rating the wheeled and swiveled mounting for the delivery end of the elevator.

Fig. G is 'a side elevation of the lower end of the elevator.

the packages along4 Patented Sept. 10,1918. I

'- ready variation in length `any desired number Aveyer sections A-A .length of the shaft. shaft 5 `there i's an element 8 of a universal by the contiguous end of the similar shaft -which are engaged -by the chains of. longitudinal side. bals gleirons constituting tracks for thejchains 5f 1, which chains are preferably provided.

Fig. 7 is a cross section thereof on line 7` 7 of Fig. 6.

F ig.8v`is a. like view uponL line 8-8 of Fig. 9 is a cross section through one of the conveyer sections upon line 9-9 of Fig. 2: and 'y Fig. 10A is a detail view of one end of one of the conveyer sections illustrating a takeup hereinafter described.

ike reference characters designate coi'- responding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. I v

A complete system made in accordance with the present invention is .composed of of portable apron-cmi` and an elevator B also here shown as of the apron type.` These elements are of lsuch nature that. when brought 'into coperative relation they are adapted to provide anvapparatus capable of and in the'angles which the several elements may occupy with res ect to each other.

he section A comprises a portable frame ofsuitable length and a construction,

whereby it is strong and light and furnishes guidance for an endless traveling apron of suitable character7 herevsho'wn as being composed of a pair of endless traveling chains 1, connected with each other by a series of slats 2 which extend transversely'of the frame and have their ends secured to the links of the chains` a shaft 5 which extends longitudinally of the frameand has. a driving connection with one end of the apron whereby upon its rotation it will impart traveling .iiiovement to the latter vin the direction of the At the other end of the connection, the mate 8a of which iscarried 5a of the next nection, for herein section A. vlliis driving conthe type'of. apron conveyer illustrated, includes sprockets 3 1 and are mounted on shafts 4 at the oppositeends of the frame. and toothed gearing connecting the shaft 4 at the driving end of the frame with the shaft 5. A most desirable form of gearing consists of a bevelgear 5 fixed on the shaft 5 and a similar gear 7 fixed on the contiguous shaft 4 -and iiitermeshed with the gear 6.

The frame of the sectionrA is composed 10 formed of an- `willy operate, through the gears-6 with rollers 1x which run on said tracks and minimize friction. These longitudinalmembers at each side of the frame ai'e connected with eachother by vertical straps or ineinbers 1l and also by diagonal members l2 and the two side frames thus formed are connected with each other b transverse members 13 which are arrange( at. intervals and are riveted or otherwise strongly secured to the vertical membersl 1l at places between the working'and returning runs of the apronJ as shown in Fig. 9, whereby the fraine is strongly braced; The frame is also mounted upon wheeled supports, located under the ends thereof and secured thereto. These supports are here :gli

comprising vertical members let and transverse members 1.5,'e`ach composed of angle irons, strongly secured together and previded with supporting wheels 16. This wheeled support is of such construction as to adapt it to also support asuitable prime mover C and for this purpose comprises uprights. 17 and Suitable means supported thereby for the motor and the driving connections: The motor here'shownis electric and driiies by means of cuitable gearing, only part of which is shown, toa shaft 20. This shaft 20 carries a sprocket wheel 2l wliichdrives acate movement `to a second sprocket wheel 23 fixed on the shaft 5.

The section A may be7 and is here shown as eing, identical in construction with that of the section A, except for such changes as are necessary to adapt it tofbe driven by the' shaft 5 there is no provision in it for the prime mover C. and its longitudinal shaft (5) instead of having a universal-joint member 8 at one end only.lias such a member at both-ends, wherebydt is adapted for connection with the shaft 5 at one end and also with asimilar shaft' at-its other end, forming pai l. of the'ffnext section. It will be apparent that rotative movement imparted tothe shaftf1 from the shell 5 andltand sprocket wheels 33 and the shafts of the lat ter, to transmit traveling movement to the apron of the-section A in the direction of the length of the frame of the latter, preeisely the same as the shaft 5 causes traveling movement to be iinparted'to the apron of the section A.

It will be observed that the versal ,connection enables the. sec-tions A and A to be arranged at any desired anglewith reference to each other-without*interfering with the transmission of -movenient to the described un`ichain serving to communi J of the latter, instead of by a 'prime mover. Hence,

ies'

lltl

apron of one section .from the shaft of the precedin section.. l.

In or( er also that the sections muy be readily disconnected?.and reunited, the com.

plementary members 0r inatcsg and Sii of 18e ilo the universal connection are connected with nach other hy readily removable connections, as pins 9 renovahly extending tl'irough the 'the type of universal conneclll la practice, the system will include a Seciion t. and several sections placed toend te end, in. direct line with each other or an angle or angles, to accord with required conditions. and where the conditimis are rariahle, sections may he re moved 'from or added readily from place to place7 set vilirtl 2 will he noted that the longitudinal shaft s adriving vconnection 'to rthe transverse all as herein iureted to the Shafts 5 and 5a, to regulate "i of th aprons or take up slack therein,

m ce el ectea without disturbing the con iicction of the shafts and 5 with each other. This adjustment may he edect'ed by any suitable means. ln practice, l preterahly r loy a taire np means 0,2 similar in non to the one employed in the ele' ind which construction is hereinater E comiirises two frames ily secured together. @ne of ippo 's and guides the apron :in termed 'the aproiiflfraine. The the apr-cadranno and is arl is termed the hasefraine `extends under the linately" the whole length -nd engages the oppoc latter and under ends, the wheels cted to what ver, to which the "he handle 100 ived from place wanted to turn. ic and suitable eleditate this turneiferrcd ya'g'cmis xeinplilieifi' form and l il zum* he ander o@ referia-d to draii' when lo plan. relai.Y ivrly l ments are e:

' n" Eu are of construction el the inventionn Y forth in detell. ilhrrprowlraiae has approximately' hoil upper and lower endsand 7/ and an inclined seetipn i12 inter# mediale ot theel.; ends and gra/dnally mergto the line, and moved y .lower end ot' the elevator,

lt carried upon ing into the same., rhe lower end l) is in the plane of the contiguous section A', and the upper end may loe in the plane of another conveyor indicated at D which may be an apron convcyer or like that already described, ora power or gravity-conveyor of any suitable construction. The transfer of the packages from said conveyors to' the elevator, or from the elevator to said conveyors, is thus accomplished without shock 75 either to the package or to the mechanism. The gradual mergence of the inclinedsection of the conveyor into the horizontal por-` tions thereof, elin'iinating as it does abrupt angles at the junctions of these parte, causes the packages to move readily and easily and witl'iout-shock, across or along the junction points, and thereby materially' improves the operation of the parts. f i i The apron trame iscomposcd of a pair,85 of suitably connected longitudinal members Q5 and 26 at each side thereof. These mem-vy hers are termed of angle irons,I whereby they are light rand strongand at the same time form ways or tracks for the endless chains I which, together with transversclyarfv 'ranged slats 28, constitute the apron of this conveyer. x The chains travel over sprockets 29 at the hase and head of the elevator and suitable, elements7 as 30, are arranged at J(he june tion of horizontal and inclined portions of the frame; to hold the chains down into the plane of the upper frame elements at these places. Similar guiding means as 30 may he provided for the 'returning or lower runs of; the chains. Atintervals along'thelr length of this apron means, such as strips :sey

3l projecting above the plane' of the Sur,-v 1 i :face thereol, are provided to prevent-move- DE ment of the packages uponv the apron'.

The hase-frame has two lower side-memhers, preferably formed of angleyirons in orderthat they may be rboth light and strong. rhese n'iemhers extendf from the in horizontal alii'ien'ient, or approximately so, with `the lower members 26 or" the apron-frame, to a place. which i5 approximately in' vertical alincment` with vthe upper end of the elevator. They preferably overlap the apron- 'trame members Q6 at their forward ends.

Frame inemherc are employed to connect the apron-trame with said members Those here shown, comprise -vertical memhers Slyhaving their upper 'ends secured to the apron 'frame members 25 and 26 :Lt-the upper end of the elevator; othervcrtical members El; extending from the members 32 and fastened to the side members and 2G intermediate the length or the apronframeg horizontal memhers 35 Secured to the. vertical inen'ihers 53 about midway the length; l of the latter and extending to the rapronl rame members and to which they are bers between said members 35 1 frame and connect with each other the memrigidly secured, diagonal truss rods or members 36, secured at their ends to the longitudinal members 32, at places adjacent to the lower cnds of thevertical members 34, and also secured to the apron-fra1ne members; other diagonal truss rods or members, 3T, the lower ends of which' are arranged and secured contiguous to the junctions of members 33 and 35 and lthe upper ends of which are secured to said apron-frame memand the upper ends of the elevator; and still other diag'onal members 38, the lower ends of which are secured at or adjacent to the junction of the members 32 and 33 and the upper ends of which are secured to the apron-frame members 25 and 26, at places between the members 34 and 35. All of these members are preferably made 0f angle iron.

Straps, as 39, are 'preferably arranged at intervals along the length of the apronbers 25 and 26, at each side of said frame. These straps are preferably connected With each other transversely of the apron frame, by tic-rods 39a. The vert-ical members 33 are connected with each other by bracing members, herein shown as composed of horizontal and diagonal elements 40 and 41, respectively. l

One end of the supporting frame includes what may be generically referred to as a platform, to which the wheeled carrier hereinbefore referred to is connected. In the exemplified form herein shown this is arranged under the elevated end of the elevator "Y and at the junction of the members 32, 33

and 38. It is formed to provide an annular channel 42, the side wall of which furnishes bearings for a series of shafts 43 upon Which are mounted wheels 44 by which this end of `the frame is supported by the wheeled carl comprises a pendent bearings 46 for the shaft 47 of the carrying wheels 48 and rier. This wheeled carrier frame 45, having a ring 49 which is arranged inv juxtaposition to the inner wall (51)v of the channel 42 and serves as a guidein the pivotal movement of the carrier. The wheels 44 make this movement an easily-accomplished one. In the exemplified form, they are carried .by the base frame and run upon the carrier, the latter preferably being provided with a wear plate 50, here shown as integral with the ring 49. Y

The channel 42 is here shown asformed b an annular anOle rino' 52 and a se )arate ring 5l relatively disposed to close three sides of the channel, the fourth side being formed by the wear plate 50.

In the exemplifiedform of the invention,

i 'both the platform and carrier 'are thus of open annularV form;

From the foregoing description it will be clear that the rear end of the elevator is on so that these packages may be piled to the best advantage. The 'upper end of the elevator may, if desired, be disposed-in operative relation to a conveyer section D by which packages maybe conducted from th@ upper endvof the elevator,

The several frame-members and the platform are secured together preferably as follows The lowerl ends of the members 33 are cut away for the reception of the contiguous ends of the members 32, and the lower ends of the members 3S abut against the side walls of the members 33. At the junction of these parts plates 55 are arranged and serve to secure together the several members referred to, being riveted thereto as shown. These plates may also be riveted, orjotherwise suitably secured to the platform, and this is true also of the members 32, whereby a rigid connection is made between the platform and the frame. The platform also supports a frame composed of legs 56 which .diverge thereto from a place immediately under the tie-members 40 of the uprights 33, to which tie members they are suitably secured. The lower ends of these legs' are secured to the platform by brackets or plates 57 riveted yor-otherwise suitablj secured to the parts referred to, and cross pieces 55 are provided which brace the platform.

As already stated, the other end also of the elevator is mounted upon wheels (59) connected thereto in any suitable manner as by means of a frame having a member 60 which extends across the lower end of the frame, underneath the same, and vertical members 61. which rise from the member 60 and are secured to the aproneframe members 25 and 26 at each side ofthe elevator. Suitable provision is made at this end of the elevator for taking up slack in the chains. The means shown for this purpose comprise bearings 62 for the shaft 63 of the sprockets, said bearings being slidably supports 64, with suitable provision between the same for guiding the bearings in their adjustments. The bearings hand wheels 65, or other suitable means, mounted on rods 65a threaded in the supports.

4The uprights 33 support a,- slide 66, through intermediate means which enable the outer end of the slide to be raised or 10W- ered and to be moved laterally, in order to direct the packages to di'erent predeter` mined parts of the pile, within the range of its adjustments. The intermediate means referred to are herein shown as composed of are adjusted byv soi mounted in iasl brackets 67 secured to the frame members 33 and providing bearings for a shaft 68 upon which is mounted a frame 69 having lugs or ears 70 which engage the shaft 68, and a pivotal connection, as the vertical y pivot'l bolt 71, between'the frame 69 and the A8O carrying a pinion 81 rear end of the slide 66.' A plate 72, which has depending ears or lugs 73 at'its ends, is also mounted upon the shaft 468, under the center of the frame 69, thus bracing the rear end of the slide at this place, Where the greatest strain is imposed. Some suitable means, as clamping nuts 74 upon the ends of the shaft 68 will be provided to hold the frame69 and slide in the position to which they are adjusted upon the shaft 68, as the axis of such adjustment. The nut 75 upon thefpivot bolt 71. similarly secures the slide in `its horizontal adjustment upon the frame 69.

For driving the apron, an electric motor as 76 mounted upon a base 77 carried by the members 32 is preferably employed. This motor is suitably connected with the apron, as by means of a belt 78 extending over a pulley 7 9 inounted'on a countersliaft v gear 82 mounted on the shaft 83 of the upper sprockets of the apron. This constitutes a forni of reducing gearing preferably employed. -The members 38 carryv a shield Sil mounted over the motor 76 and protecting the latter against drippings from the packages. The motor is preferably connected with a controller, not necessary to show herein, adapted to cause it to run the chain either: forward or backward, thus adapting the elevator to lower as Well as to raise packages.

While the embodiment shown and described is well adapted to serve the purposes sought, it is 'to be understood that this particular embodiment is merely exemplary and that the invention may be otherwise and variously embodied Without departing from its spirit or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I believe to be new, andv desire to 'secure by Letters Patent and what I, therefore, claim is 1. A. conveying apparatus comprising in combination, a plurality of eoiiveyer sections coperatively associated with each other end to end and each having an endless traveling package supporting apron,` the apron of .thev several sections lying close to each O therend to end, and means to impart traveling movement to the aprons operable at varying angles of the sections, and an elevator to which said conveyer sections deliver,

comprising an endless traveling` package supporting bed having an inclined portion and a substantially horizontal receiving end portion which lies substantially in the plane of the conveyer sections, the discharge end of the elevatoi` being mounted for arcuate which. meshes intesa" lateral movement While its A receiving end remains in position to receive packages from said conveyer sections.

2. A conveying apparatus comprising in combination, a plurality of conveyer sections cooperatively associated With each other end to end and having an endless traveling package supporting apron, the aprons of the several sections lying close to each other end to end, and means to impart traveling movement to the aprons operable at .varying angles of the sections, and an elevator to which said conveyer sections deliver, comprising an endless traveling package supporting bed having an inclined portion and a substantially horizontal receiving end portion Which lies substantially in the plane of the I,conveyer sections, the discharge end of said elevator being mounted for arcuate lateral movement While its receiving end remains in position to receive packages from said' conveyor sections, a delivery slide carried by the discharge end of the elevator and adjustable to deliver the sacks or bags at varying heights, and means for mounting said slide for arcuate movement With relation to lthe elevator.

3. A conveying apparatus comprising a plurality of portable sections having longitudinal driving shafts, a universal connection bet-Ween confronting ends of said shafts, through which one shaft'derives niotion from the next, endless traveling aprons forming the beds of the respective sections, and a driving connection between one end only of each apron and the driving shaft associated therewith, the other ends 'of the aprons being adjustable with relation to the driving shafts to take up slack Without effecting the connection of the aprons with said shafts or of the shafts with eachl other.

4. The combination with a frame, of transverse shafts at the ends thereof, a gear fixed on one of said shafts, sprocket Wheels mounted on the shaft, endless chains` engaging the' sprockets, 'slats connecting the chains, and a longitudinal drive shaft having a gear at one end engaging the gear aforesaid, and a member cf a universal connection at the opposite end of the longitudinal shaft.

This combination with a pair of endless conveyers arranged end to end, of a longitudinally extending drive shaft foreach cnveyer, the longitudinal shaft of one of `the conveyers having a gear at one end for ets carried by each shaft, a pair of endless j llt -`combination a plurality ol conveyer sections cooperatively associated with each other end to end and each having an endless traveling package supporting apron,the aprons of the several. sections lying close to .each other end to end and means to impart travelingl movement to the apron operable at varying angles of the sections and 'a conveyer to which said conveyer sections deliver, including a frame, and an endless traveling bed supported thereon, said conveyer having an approximately horizontal lower end portion, an'approximately horizontal upper end portion, and an inclined portion arranged between and gradually merging into the upper and lower end portions, a substantially'right angular supporting frame located eneath the. conveyor and connected with the upper and lower horizontal portions 0f such conveyer, a turn table upon which the meeting sections of the right angular frame rest, and tracsion devices for the turn tables.

8. The combination with approximately horizontal upper and lower conveyers, of an elevator disposed therebetween and comprising approximately horizontal upper and lower end portions and an intermediate inclined portion which merges into said end portions, means for mounting that end ot the elevator that is disposed toward the up- )er conveyer forhodily swinging movement into and out of substantially horizontaland the latter is moved out of alinementwith the upper convever section.-

9. ln a convv` mg an endless t. vehn'g package conveying means extending to the upper end thereof,

uprights arranged under the upper en dv of \r, an inclined-frame hav-` the frame and supporting the frame,atransf 'I kverse member-carried by the uprigh'ts, a'

slide pivotally mounted on the. transverse member, a rolling mounting for the frame disposed beneath 'the uprights and upper and lower conveyer sections with which the upper and lower ends of the endless traveling package conveying means are adapted to aline. l y

10. In a conveyer, an inclined frame having an endless traveling package conveying means mounted thereon and comprising substantially horizontal upper andlower end portions and an intermediate' inclined portion, upper and lower conveyer sections, the lower end of the traveling package conveying means lying substantially in the horizontal plane'ot the lower conveyer section and the upper end of the traveling package con- 'veying means lyingV substantiallyV in the horizontal plane otl the upper conveyer section, uprights arranged n nder the upper end of the frame and supporting the same, a slide supported 'from said uprights and means for "mounting the end ofthe frame that lies toward the upper conveyer section for arcuate swinging' movement while leaving its lower end in operative relation to the lower conveyer section. i y f In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. f i MORRS UfBERNHEIh/'L lVtnesses ,Y u

JAMES L.- CRAWFORD, (1J. S'rooKMAN. 

